Holder for paper cups



Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,305,628 HOLDER FOR PAPER CUPS Robert C. McKay,- Swampscott, Mass. Application April 17, 1941, Serial No. 388,946

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a new type of paper cup holder.

The main object of the invention is to provide a paper cup holder which is light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and which will require a minimum of space when not in use. Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a, side view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view Fig. 3 is a side view of the invention;

Fig. i is a rear view Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a top view of the holder shown in Fig. 3 folded into a closed condition.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the embodiment of the invention there illustrated comprises a ring 2 adapted to encircle, or at least to embrace, a substantial portion of the circumference of the cup 3, and a handle 4 pivoted to the ring. Preferably the ring is split with its ends overof the same assembly;

of a second embodiment of the assembly shown in lapped so that it is expansible, and when so cona structed it should be made of a considerable degree of resilience. The handle 4 also is conveniently made of wire having a considerable degree of rigidity. It includes a part a adapted to extend under the curved over lip b of the cup, and it also has two outwardly projecting loops ce which may be conveniently gripped by the fingers. Below these portions 0 the Wire is bent inwardly and terminates in extensions wire having a dd of any convenient length, some portions at least of which are adapted to bear against the outer wall of the cup. Between the points a and c the wire parts of the handle are bent into the form of an eye e through which the ring extends and at which the ring and handle are pivotally connected to each other.

It should be noted that in this construction the handle is held to the cup by the ring. Also, that the handle bears against the outer wall of the cup both above and below its pivotal point of connection with said ring. This provides a very rigid connection of the handle to the cup. If, in addition, the cup is provided with. a turned over lip b, as in the construction shown, and the extension a of the handle projects under this lip, then it is not absolutely necessary to have the lower portion of the handle bear against the side of the cup. This is the preferred arrangement, however, since it adds materially to the rigidity of the entire assembly.

Another embodiment of the invention is i1lustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. Here the cup embracing member consists of a coil 5 of wire, and the handle 6 has two loops adapted to be engaged by the fingers, the upper ends of these loops being bent around and pivoted to the uppermost turn or ring of the coil. At its lower end the handle is provided with a fork 1 which straddles the member 5 near its lower end, the end portion of the wire being bent backwardly upon itself, as indicated at 8, to prevent it from sliding through the fork.

In this construction, as in that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle is pivoted to the member which embraces the cup, it is held by the latter to the cup, and it is adapted to engage the outer wall of the cup at points spaced widely apart vertically so that, together with the cup, it forms a very rigid assembly. In both constructions the handle is pivoted to the cup embracing member so that in either case the handle can be pivoted on the members 2 or 5, respectively, and folded across the ring or the coil, as the case may be. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 it is necessary to disengage the fork 1 from the lower turn of the coil 5 before folding it, but it can be re-engaged, as shown in Fig. 5, after such folding operation so that it then retains the holder in its folded or collapsed condition.

While I have herein shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be evident that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A holder for a paper cup having a lip at the upper edge thereof, said holder comprising a handle, means for holding the handle against the outer wall of a paper cup and a part positioned above said holding means for engaging said lip.

2. A holder for a paper cup having a lip at the upper edge thereof, said holder comprising a ring adapted to substantially encircle the cup, and a handle pivotally attached thereto, a portion of said handle being adapted to extend under the lip of the paper cup.

3. A paper cup holder comprising a handle adapted to extend under the lip of a paper cup, and means for holding said handle against the vertical side of a paper cup.

4. A paper cup holder comprising a coil adapted to receive a cup, a handle plvotally attached to the upper part of the coil, said handle having a part engaging the lower portion of said coil.

5. A paper cup holder comprising a coil adapted to receive a cup, a handle pivotally attached to the upper part of the coil, the lower end of said handle being forked to releasably engage the lower part of the coil.

6. A paper cup holder comprising a wire member adapted to embrace a cup, and a wire handle bent to provide parallel loops to be engaged by the fingers, said handle being so connected with said member that it is held thereby firmly against the outer wall of the cup, said handle and said member being pivoted together so that the handle may be folded into the space betwe'entl'ieeiip 1 embracing portions of said member.

'7. A paper cup holder comprisi'r'ig'a "split ring" adapted to encircle a cup, said ring having ends overlapped whereby the ring is adapted to grip the cup elastically, and a handle pivotedto said 3 ring in position to bear against the cup at points spaced widely apart vertically of the cup.

8. A paper cup holder comprising a wire member adapted to encircle and grip a cup, and a handle pivotally connected with said member to swing in a plane transverse to the plane of said member and having portions held against the cup by said member at points spaced widely apart vertically of the cup.

9. A paper cup holder comprising a split wire ring adapted to encircle and grip a cup elastically, and a wire handle bent to provide parallel loops to be engaged by the fingers, said handle being pivoted to said ring to swing relatively thereto in a plane transversely tb'tli'e plane of the ring and having parts adapted to bear on the outer surface of said cup both above and below said ring.

10. paper cup holder comprising a ring adapted to substantially encircle and grip the means" a handle pivotally connected with said ring to swing-in a plane transverse to the plane of said ring and having parts adapted to bearagainst the outer surface of the paper cup both above and below said pivotal connection of the handle with the ring.

ROBERT C. McKAY: 

